Yes I Understand the Meaning of the Word Hyperbola But....

by Tom Dakers on Sep 22, 2008 12:09 AM EDT in Toronto Blue Jays News

Reggie Jackson said that Mariano Rivera is one the of top five all-time Yankee Most Important Players. Yeah I get he was over stating things to make a point and I understand using the term important allows you to define it anyway you want but let's take a moment here.

Is he more important than: Babe Ruth? Well no way. Lou Gehrig? Well no again. Mickey Mantle? Ummmmm no. Joe DiMaggio? Yogi Berra? No and no. So now at best he could be 6th. Bill Dickey? Not in my books. Whitey Ford? Well no. Reggie himself? I'm sure Reggie would say no, I would too. Derek Jeter? No chance. So now at best he's tenth on the list.

Now this is off the top of my head, but I'd guess there is a list of about 20 others that would be plus or minus as important. Randolph, Nettles, Mattingly, Tony Lazzeri. Munson? Rickey Henderson? Maris? O'Neil? Bernie Williams? Lefty Grove? Red Ruffing? Ron Guidry? Herb Pennock? Waite Hoyt? Joe Gordon? Dave Winfield? Andy Pettitte? I would guess I'd put him near the top of that list of players without spending the time to figure out exactly where he would fit. So let's just guess he belongs somewhere between the 12th and 18th most important Yankee ever. Or well you could tell me I'm wrong and he's more important than the Babe ever was. Or you could fine 15 other guys that should be considered.

Anyway the Yankee's won the game. Mariano got the final out. Jose Molina got the last home run, Jeter came out of the game with one out left. He also made a great speech at the end. Lots of pictures of men, women and children crying. Lots of players taking dirt from the mound and from the basepaths. I am not a Yankee's fan but that truly is the greatest stadium in baseball. I'm glad I got to go there before it was torn down. It is too bad it has to come down but as someone else said, ''you can't stop progress".

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good post

except that I disagree that New Yankee Stadium is progress – it’s a cynical move to raise already astronomical ticket prices even higher (by cutting down on the number of seats substantially) and make money of corporate luxury boxes. Worst of all, they destroyed some of the South Bronx’s best green space (the fairly large Macombs Dam Park) to build the stadium and are replacing it with a park along the Harlem River Waterfront over a mile away and across the Deegan – the new park won’t serve the neighborhood at all. It is a real shame that this working-class neighborhood, who have always strongly supported the Yankees, are losing their neighborhood park, part of the lifeblood of the neighboorhood – so that fatcats can enjoy a better luxury box experience at New Yankee stadium and the team can sign more Jarret Wrights and Carl Pavanos (though as far as I’m concerned they can sign as many of thoes two as they like).

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Sep 22, 2008 10:36 AM EDT reply actions

I had thought that the old site was going to be turned into a park....

I was surprised that the new park was going to have fewer seats. That doesn’t make sense to me, but am sure you are right, it is to raise ticket prices. But I do think that Yankee Stadium does show its age. Going to games at Safeco in Seattle is a much more enjoyable….wide concourses and good food. And lots of places to buy Mariner crap….when you have a young kids that’s a big part of going to a game.

by Tom Dakers on Sep 22, 2008 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm not sure there's been any decision on what to do with the old stadium.

As far as seats go, Yankee Stadium is going to lose about 4000 or so. The Mets new stadium (CitiField) is going to lose about 10,000 so that is really going to be a challenge.

I am interested to see how they accommodate the likely to feel disenfranchised fans. I don’t know if the Yankees have made any announcements regarding it, but the Mets have claimed that it will still be affordable for blue-collar families to go to the games. I’m kind of skeptical on that, but we’ll see.

In regards to Yankee Stadium being the best, I have to disagree. I have been there many times and it is a beautiful stadium, but I think Wrigley was far better overall. People say that Yankee Stadium lines and such are so awful because the stadium is old and that is partially true, but I did not think Wrigley was nearly as uncomfortable. I’ve never been to Fenway, but I can’t imagine it’s better than Wrigley (or anywhere nearly as affordable. I think the reason Cubs fans are so loyal despite so many years of futility is because it doesn’t seem like the team is trying to screw them).

"The NY Mets are my favorite squadron" --Apu Nahasapeemapetilon

by jessef on Sep 22, 2008 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Reggie Jackson's comment about Mariano Rivera

In most top 5’s are the following 4: Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, and Mickey Mantle. In questioning that Rivera belongs in the top 5, are you including his 13 consecutive years in the post season and contributions to deadlocked or come from behind pennant races? Reggie Jackson isn’t the first to make such a statement about Rivera. If you are interested in the subject, I can refer you to other sources on the matter.

by mandy on Sep 22, 2008 8:59 PM EDT reply actions